Thirsk schoolboy Joseph Rafferty is the tops - at cycling, swimming and running.

The young athlete this week, has just represented Great Britain at the European Championships in Poland in the relatively new sport of triathlon. It is the newest sport to be included in the Olympics.

Joseph who won his team place after an impressive run of performances, finished fourth in his first appearance at the championships and hopes to win a medal next time.

Joseph now has a hard winter's training ahead. He has been offered a place at Loughborough University next season, where he will continue his higher education studies but also train on the lottery-funded World Potential Scheme with the best athletes in the country.

His mother said: "Joseph was thrilled to bits to be given a place in the Great Britain team, but he well deserves it. He trains every night and is exceptional at all three sports.

"He started swimming when he was five and swims with the Thirsk and Catterick club, cycles with Cleveland Wheelers and has great stamina and speed at running."